Connector, light source module including the connector, and light source module array including the light source module

ABSTRACT

A connector, a light source module including the connector, and a light source module array including the light source module array are provided. The connector includes a first connection part configured to connect to a first wire inserted thereto; a second connection part configured to connect to a second wire inserted thereto, the first and second connection parts being disposed to face in opposite directions; a housing covering the first and second connection parts; and a push button configured to be actuated by an external force applied thereto to release a connection of the first connection part to the first wire and a connection of the second connection part to the second wire.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0116838, filed on Aug. 19, 2015 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present inventive concept relates to a connector, a light sourcemodule including the connector, and a light source module arrayincluding the light source module array.

Light emitting diodes (LED are semiconductor light emitting devicescapable of generating various colors of light through the recombinationof electrons and holes at a junction between p-type and n-typesemiconductor materials when a current is applied thereto. Compared tofilament-based light emitting devices, such light emitting diodes havefavorable characteristics such as a relatively extended lifespans, lowpower consumption, excellent initial operating characteristics, a highdegree of vibration resistance, and the like. Hence, demand for lightemitting diodes is continuously increasing. In particular, a group IIInitride semiconductor capable of emitting light in a blue-based shortwavelength region has come to prominence.

In the case of light emitting modules used in liquid crystal display(LCD) backlight units, cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) accordingto the related art have been used. However, since such CCFLs operateusing a mercury gas, this may lead to environmental pollution.Furthermore, CCFLs operate with a low-speed response time, have lowcolor reproducibility, and are not suitable for use with lightweight,slim and compact LCD panels. As compared to CCFLs according to therelated art, LEDs are environmentally-friendly and able to operate witha high-speed response time on the level of several nanoseconds so as tobe effective for video signal streams, and are also able to beimpulse-driven. In addition, LEDs have 100% color reproducibility andare able to not only adjust a quantity of light emitted by red, greenand blue LEDs to optionally change degrees of brightness, colortemperatures, or the like, but may also be suitable for use withlightweight, slim and compact LCD panels. A current trend, therefore, isto actively employ LEDs in light emitting modules for backlight units.

In view of the above, the range in which light emitting diodes areemployed as light emitting modules for backlight units is increasing,and research into reducing manufacturing costs and manufacturing timesthereof has been continuously conducted. In particular, technology forreducing costs of manufacturing a light source module and a light sourcemodule array and the time taken in the coupling light source modules toeach other has been proposed.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments provide a connector, a light source module includingthe connector, and a light source module array including the lightsource module, in which costs for manufacturing a light source moduleand a light source module array may be reduced and a manufacturing timethereof may be reduced.

According to an aspect of an example embodiment, there is provided aconnector including a first connection part configured to connect to afirst wire inserted thereto; a second connection part configured toconnect to a second wire inserted thereto, the first and secondconnection parts being disposed to face in opposite directions; ahousing covering the first and second connection parts; and a pushbutton configured to be actuated by an external force applied thereto torelease a connection of the first connection part to the first wire anda connection of the second connection part to the second wire.

An upper surface of the housing may have a hole through which the pushbutton is externally exposed, and the push button may be actuated tomove within the housing by application the external force.

Each of the first and second connection parts may include: a solderingportion having a plate shape and configured to be soldered to a circuitboard; a pair of covering portions extending in a direction intersectingan upper surface of the soldering portion and having portions which arebent to surround a corresponding one of the first and second wires; apair of fastening portions extending from the covering portions,respectively, and connected to the corresponding one of the first andsecond wires inserted from a position adjacent to an end of the coveringportion; and a pair of fastening release portions disposed above thefastening portions, respectively, spaced apart from each other by a gap,and configured to release a connection of the corresponding one of thefirst and second wires to the fastening portions when the portion of thepush button is inserted into the gap by application of the externalforce to the push button.

The connector may further included an elastic member that supports thepush button in a position separating the push button from the fasteningrelease portions.

The connector may further included an insulating barrier disposedbetween the first and second connection parts to electrically isolatethe first and second connection parts from each other.

The push button may configured to be actuated by the external forceapplied thereto to release mechanical and electrical connections betweenthe first connection part and the first wire and mechanical andelectrical connections between the second connection part and the secondwire by the force applied to the push button externally.

The first and second connection parts may be symmetrical to each otherrelative to the push button.

The housing may be provided by molding the first and second connectionparts.

At least a portion of the soldering portion may be exposed downwardly ofthe housing to be bent in a direction in which the wire extends.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, there is providedlight source module including: a circuit board; a plurality of lightemitting devices disposed on the circuit board; and at least oneconnector disposed on a surface of the circuit board and electricallyconnected to the plurality of light emitting devices, wherein theconnector includes: a first connection part configured to receive andconnect to a first wire inserted thereto; a second connection partconfigured to receive and connect to a second wire inserted thereto, thefirst and second connection parts being disposed to face in oppositedirections; a housing covering the first and second connection parts;and a push button configured to be actuated by an external force appliedthereto to release a connection of the first connection part to thefirst wire and a connection of the second connection part to the secondwire.

The circuit board may be a bar-type circuit board.

The connector may be disposed on only one side on the circuit board.

The at least one connector may include first and second connectors, andthe first and second connectors may be spaced apart from the pluralityof light emitting devices by a predetermined distance.

The first and second connection parts may be spaced apart from eachother.

The circuit board may include a hole into which the housing is inserted.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, there is providedlight source module array including: a plurality of light sourcemodules, each of the plurality of light source modules including: acircuit board; a plurality of light emitting devices disposed on thecircuit board, and first and second connectors disposed on a surface ofthe circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of lightemitting devices, wherein each of the first and second connectorsincludes first and second connection parts disposed in oppositedirections and electrically connected to wires inserted into the firstand second connection parts, and the wires inserted into the first andsecond connection parts electrically connect the second connector of oneof the plurality of light source modules to the first connector of alight source module adjacent thereto among the plurality of light sourcemodules.

The plurality of light source modules may be connected to each other inseries by the wires inserted into the first and second connection parts.

The wires inserted into the first and second connection parts mayelectrically connect a second connection part of the second connector ofone of the plurality of light source modules to a first connection partof the first connector of a light source module adjacent thereto amongthe light source modules.

The plurality of light source modules may be connected in parallel bythe wires inserted into the first and second connection parts.

The wires inserted into the first and second connection parts mayelectrically connect a first connection part of the second connector ofone of the plurality of light source modules to a first connection partof the first connector of a light source module adjacent thereto amongthe light source modules, and electrically connect a second connectionpart of the second connector of one of the plurality of light sourcemodules to a second connection part of the first connector of a lightsource module adjacent thereto among the light source modules.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a connector including: a first connection part configured toreceive and electrically connect to a first wire inserted into the firstconnection part in a first direction; a second connection partconfigured to receive and electrically connect to a second wire insertedinto the second connection part in a second direction that is oppositeto the first direction, the first and second connection parts beingsymmetrically aligned with each other in a same plane; and a housingcovering the first and second connection parts.

The connector may further included a push button configured to beactuated by application of a pressing force applied thereto to causerelease of a connection of the first connection part to the first wireand a connection of the second connection part to the second wire.

The first and second connection parts may be electrically isolated fromeach other.

The housing may include an upper surface having a hole through which thepush button is exposed.

The housing may further include a first side surface having a firstinsertion hole through which the first wire is inserted, and a secondside surface opposite to the first side surface and having a secondinsertion hole through which the second wire is inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will be more clearly understood from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a light source module according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wire inserted into theconnector of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B are views illustrating release of a connectionof wires by pressing a push button;

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified example of the connector of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which a plurality of light sourcemodules are connected in series;

FIG. 9 is an example in which a plurality of light source modules areconnected in parallel;

FIG. 10 illustrates a light source module array according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 11A illustrates a light source module array according to anotherexample embodiment;

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view illustrating mounting of theconnector of FIG. 11A;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are drawings illustrating an example of light emittingdevices employed in the light source module of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a lighting apparatus in which thelight source module of FIG. 1 is employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which some embodiments are shown. Thepresent disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure isthorough and complete and fully conveys the present disclosure to thoseskilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes oflayers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layeror intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. Like numerals refer to likeelements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These termsare only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed asecond element, component, region, layer or section without departingfrom the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s)or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood thatthe spatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

When an embodiment can be implemented differently, functions oroperations described in a particular block may occur in a different wayfrom a flow described in the flowchart. For example, two consecutiveblocks may be performed simultaneously, or the blocks may be performedin reverse according to related functions or operations. A light sourcemodule according to an example embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a light sourcemodule according to an example embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 1, a light source module 10 may include a circuitboard 400 on which a plurality of light emitting devices 300 aredisposed, and connectors 100 and 200 disposed on one surface of thecircuit board 400.

The circuit board 400 may include a circuit wiring electricallyconnected to the plurality of light emitting devices 300, and may have abar-type plate shape extending lengthwise in a single direction. Such ashape of the circuit board 400 may be suitable to configure a backlightunit through an arrangement thereof in a row or a column on a chassisstructure of an LCD panel, but a shape of the circuit board is notlimited thereto. For example, a shape of the circuit board 400 may bevariously altered.

In addition, the circuit board 400 may be provided as a printed circuitboard (PCB) and may be formed of an organic resin material containing anepoxy, a triagine, a silicone, a polyimide, or the like, or anotherorganic resin material. Further, the circuit board 400 may be formed ofa ceramic material such as AlN, Al₂O₃, or the like, a metal, or ametallic compound, and an example of the circuit board 400 may include,for example, a metal-core PCB (MCPCB) as a metal PCB.

As the light emitting devices 300, any device capable of emitting lightwhen an electrical signal is applied thereto may be used. In an exampleembodiment, as the light emitting devices 300, light emitting diodes(LED) may be used. As such a light emitting diode, a semiconductor lightemitting device obtained by allowing for epitaxial growth of asemiconductor layer on a growth substrate may be used.

As the growth substrate, a sapphire substrate may be used, but thegrowth substrate is not limited thereto. For example, a growth substratesuch as a spinel substrate, a SiC substrate, a GaN substrate, a GaAssubstrate, or the like may be used. In detail, the light emitting device300 may be formed of BN, SiC, ZnSe, GaN, InGaN, InAlGaN, AlGaN, BAlGaN,BInAlGaN, or the like, and may be doped with Si, Zn, or the like.

An active layer of the light emitting device 300 may be a nitridesemiconductor formed of Al_(x)In_(y)Ga_(1−x−y)N (0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, 0≤x+y≤1),and may also be a single or multiple quantum well structure to improvelight output.

In this case, the light emitting device 300 may be a nitridesemiconductor emitting light having a short wavelength of 300 nm to 460nm in which light emitted therefrom may be converted into white light bya wavelength conversion material such as a phosphor or a quantum dot.

A plurality of light emitting devices 300 may be provided on the circuitboard 400, and the plurality of light emitting devices 300 may beelectrically connected to each other. For example, the plurality oflight emitting devices 300 may be connected to each other in series orin parallel. Further, the plurality of light emitting devices 300 mayalso be connected to each other in a serial-parallel structure.

For example, when the circuit board 400 has a bar shape, the pluralityof light emitting devices 300 may be arranged on the circuit board 400with equivalent distances therebetween in a length direction d1 of thecircuit board 400. In addition, the light emitting devices 300 may bedisposed on a position of the circuit board at which a width d2 of thecircuit board 400 is halved. The light emitting devices 300 may bemounted on the circuit board 400 in chip form, in a so-called chip onboard (COB) structure, and may also be packaged and mounted thereon.

In detail, in an example embodiment, a total of 24 light emittingdevices 300 may be arranged on the circuit board 400 having a bar shapein the length direction d1 of the circuit board as illustrated inFIG. 1. In this case, the 24 light emitting devices 300 may be dividedinto light emitting device strings S1 to S3 of which each stringincludes eight light emitting devices as a group. The light emittingdevice strings S1 to S3 may be connected in parallel, and eight lightemitting devices 300 of each of the light emitting device strings S1 toS3 may be connected in series, but the number and disposition of thelight emitting devices 300 are not limited thereto and may be variouslyaltered.

The connectors 100 and 200 may be configured to apply power to theplurality of light emitting devices 300, and at least a pair ofconnectors may be provided on one surface of the circuit board 400.According to an example embodiment, the connectors may be disposed ononly one side, based on a position of the plurality of light emittingdevices 300, on a surface of the circuit board 400 on which the lightemitting devices 300 are mounted.

First connection parts 120 and 220 and second connection parts 130 and230 into which wires for applying power thereto are respectivelyinserted and fixed thereto may be disposed on two ends of the connectors100 and 200, respectively. Since the first connection parts 120 and 220and the second connection parts 130 and 230 are disposed on two ends ofthe connectors 100 and 200, respectively, to face in oppositedirections, respective wires inserted into the first connection parts120 and 220 and the second connection parts 130 and 230, respectively,may be inserted in opposite directions.

The light source module 10 in which the connectors 100 and 200 accordingto the example embodiment are employed may exhibit an effect of reducingmanufacturing costs and a manufacturing time thereof as compared to alight source module using an existing connector. This will be describedbelow.

Although a light source module according to an example embodiment may beapplied to various technical fields, a case in which the light sourcemodule is applied to a backlight unit of an LCD panel will be describedbelow by way of example. A backlight unit should be able to uniformlyemit light to an LCD panel. Thus, in order to allow for a uniformdistribution of light thereon, a relatively large number of light sourcemodules may be disposed on a chassis structure of an LCD panel.

In the related art, a light source module is configured using aso-called two-pin connector in which first and second connection partsconnecting wires to each other are disposed on one end of a connector ina single direction. In this case, since such a two-pin connector isconfigured so that the first and second connection parts are disposed inparallel in the same direction, the connector should have a width ableto allow two wires to be inserted thereinto.

Thus, there was a problem in that a circuit board having a relativelywide width should be used in order to allow for a two-pin connector tobe mounted thereon. Such a circuit board having a relatively wide widthhas a problem in that manufacturing costs may be increased and there maybe an obstacle in terms of disposing a relatively large number of lightsource modules on a chassis structure of the LCD panel.

In order to reduce such a problem, a one-pin connector having arelatively narrow width has also been used, but since one-pin connectoris a connector in which only one connection part is disposed, the numberof mounted connectors should be twice the number of connectors used inthe case that a two-pin connector is used. Thus, a problem in that amanufacturing time is increased has also occurred therewith.Furthermore, in this case, since the number of connectors is increased,manufacturing costs are also increased.

In order to solve such problems, according to an example embodiment, theconnectors 100 and 200 having a structure in which the first connectionparts 120 and 220 and the second connection parts 130 and 230 havingwires inserted thereinto are disposed in the same linear portion inopposite directions may be provided.

Thus, the connector 100 may have a width reduced by half as compared tothe case of a width of an existing two-pin connector in which first andsecond connection parts are disposed on one end of the connector to belocated in the same direction. Thus, in terms of an area of a circuitboard on which a connector is to be mounted, the area may also bereduced by half or less as compared to an area of a circuit board onwhich the first and second connection parts are provided on one end ofthe connector in the same direction. Thus, since a circuit board havinga relatively narrow width d2 as compared to an existing circuit boardmay be used, a cost of manufacturing a circuit board may be reduced.

In addition, since the first connection parts 120 and 220 and the secondconnection parts 130 and 230 are disposed on two opposite ends of theconnectors 100 and 200 to face in opposite directions, respectively, ashort circuit between wires inserted into the first and secondconnection parts, respectively, may be fundamentally prevented, ascompared to the case in which the first and second connection parts aredisposed on one end of the connector in the same direction.

Further, as compared to the case of using one-pin connector, the numberof connectors according to an example embodiment may be reduced by half,and thus, manufacturing costs thereof may be reduced, and the time takenin mounting the connector on a board may be reduced.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 6B, the connector 100 will be described indetail. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1, andFIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector illustrated inFIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that a wire isinserted into the connector of FIG. 2, and FIGS. 5A to 6B illustratethat a connection of wires is released by pressing a push button.

With reference to FIG. 2, the connector 100 may include first and secondconnection parts 120 and 130 to which wires are connected, a housing 110covering the first and second connection parts 120 and 130, and a pushbutton 140 which may actuated to by an external pressing force torelease a connection between the wires and the first and secondconnection parts 120 and 130.

With reference to FIG. 3, the first and second connection parts 120 and130 may include soldering portions 121 and 131, covering portions 122and 132, fastening portions 123 and 133, and fastening release portions124 and 134, respectively. The first and second connection parts 120 and130 may be disposed in opposite directions. For example, when theconnector 100 is mounted on the circuit board 400, the first and secondconnection parts 120 and 130 may be disposed in opposite directionstoward two ends of the circuit board 400, respectively. The first andsecond connection parts 120 and 130 may be spaced apart from each otherto prevent the occurrence of electrical short circuits therebetween. Inaddition, the first and second connection parts 120 and 130 may bedisposed to be symmetrical to each other based on the push button 140.

An insulator electrically isolating the first and second connectionparts 120 and 130 from each other may be further provided. According toan example embodiment, an insulating barrier 114 may be formed as theinsulator in a portion of the housing 110 (see FIG. 4).

The first connection part 120 and the second connection part 130 havethe same configuration, and thus, with respect to a detailed structurethereof, only the first connection part 120 will be described whileomitting repeated descriptions of the second connection part 130.

The soldering portion 121 may be a portion soldered on and attached tothe circuit board 400 when the connector 100 is mounted on the circuitboard 400, and may have a substantially flat plate shape to facilitatesoldering thereon.

The covering portions 122 may extend in a direction intersecting anupper surface of the soldering portion 121. The covering portions 122may be configured as one pair of which portions of upper portions arerespectively bent to surround a wire inserted thereinto in a directionin which one end of the soldering portion 121 is provided. Thus, thepair of covering portions 122 may respectively extend in a directionperpendicular to an upper surface of the soldering portion 121, and maybe provided with stop protrusions 122 a protruded outwardly from thevertically extended portions of the covering portions 122 to be firmlycoupled to an internal surface of the housing 110, respectively.

The fastening portions 123 may be provided as a pair respectivelyextending from the covering portion 122, and the pair of fasteningportions 123 may be configured to have a distance therebetween reducedtoward one end of the soldering portion 121. The fastening portions 123may be connected to a wire inserted thereinto from a position adjacentto one end of the covering portion 122.

The fastening portion 123 may include first extension portions 123 abent in opposite directions to oppose each other while respectivelyextending from the covering portion 122 in a direction toward the otherend of the soldering portion 121, second extension portions 123 bextending from the first extension portions 123 a in a direction towardthe other end of the soldering portion 121, respectively, to be parallelto each other, and third extension portions 123 c slopingly extending inopposite directions while extending from the second extension portions123 b in a direction toward the other end of the soldering portion 121,respectively, and having end portions between which a wire is insertedto be fastened thereto. Such a bending structure may allow for elasticforce of the fastening portion 123 itself.

The fastening release portions 124 may be disposed on upper portions ofthe fastening portions 123, respectively, and may be disposed to opposeeach other to have a gap therebetween into which a portion of the pushbutton 140 is inserted. In detail, the fastening release portions 124may extend from upper portions of the second extension portions 123 b,respectively.

For example, the fastening release portions 124 and 134 may beconfigured to be able to release a connection of the wires in such amanner that a first protrusion portion 142 and a second protrusionportion 143 of the push button 140 are inserted into the gaps betweenthe fastening release portions 124 and between the fastening releaseportions 134 when the connection of the wires is released to widen thegaps between the fastening portions 123 and between the fasteningportions 133, respectively.

The housing 110 may be formed by molding an insulating resin. Thehousing 110 may have side surfaces and an upper surface, and apush-button exposure hole 113 allowing the push button 140 to be exposedupwardly may be formed in the upper surface of the housing. Two endportions of the housing 110 may have wire insertion holes 111 and 112into which the wires are inserted, respectively.

The housing 110 may be formed by inserting the first and secondconnection parts 120 and 130 therein and performing insert injectionmolding thereon. In addition, the housing 110 may also be formed throughdouble injection molding, but is not limited thereto. For example, thehousing 110 may be separately manufactured to then be combined with thefirst and second connection parts 120 and 130. The insulating barrier114 may also be disposed inside the housing 110 in such a manner thatthe first and second connection parts 120 and 130 are electricallyisolated from each other.

The push button 140 may be disposed on the first and second connectionparts 120 and 130 while being accommodated in an inner space of thehousing 110, and thus, a connection of the first and second connectionparts 120 and 130 may be released by force applied to the push buttonexternally such as a pressing operation thereon. The push button 140 mayinclude a stop portion 141, and the first and second protrusion portions142 and 143.

An upper portion of the push button 140 may have a size less than thatof the pushbutton exposure hole 113 to allow the upper portion thereofto be exposed through the push-button exposure hole 113, and thus, theupper portion of the push button 140 may pass through the push-buttonexposure hole 113.

The stop portion 141 may have a size substantially larger than that ofthe push-button exposure hole 113 to prevent the push button 140 frombeing separated therefrom through the push-button exposure hole 113.

The first and second protrusion portions 142 and 143 may be disposedbelow the stop portion 141. Further, the first and second protrusionportions 142 and 143 may be disposed above the fastening releaseportions 124 and 134, so as to be inserted into gaps between thefastening release portions 124 and between the fastening releaseportions 134, respectively, when external force is applied to the pushbutton 140, to allow the fastening portions 123 and 133 to be widened,respectively, thereby allowing the wires to be removed therefrom. Thus,the wires respectively inserted into the fastening portions 123 and 133may be removed once by pressing the push button 140.

Although the example embodiment illustrates the case in which the firstand second protrusion portions 142 and 143 are disposed below a singlepush button 140, the configuration thereof may be changed, for example,two push buttons may be disposed on the first and second protrusionportions 142 and 143, respectively.

In addition, an elastic member such as a spring 150 may be disposedbelow the stop portion 141, and thus, when external force applied to thepush button 140 is removed, the push button 140 may be elevated up to anoriginal state thereof.

With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6B, a process of releasing the connectionof the wires inserted into the connector 100 is illustrated below.

FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which the wires 500 are inserted into thefirst and second connection parts 120 and 130, respectively, in such amanner that clad portions 520 of the wires 500 are inserted into thecovering portions 122 and 132, and electrical wires 510 are connected tothe fastening portions 123 and 133, respectively. FIG. 5A is a crosssectional view of line B-B′ of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is a cross sectionalview taken along line C-C′ of FIG. 4.

With reference to FIG. 5A, when a pressing force is not applied to thepush button 140, the first protrusion portion 142 may be spaced apartfrom an upper portion of the fastening release portion 124. Further, asillustrated in FIG. 5B, the third extension portions 123 c of thefastening portion 123 may be connected to the electrical wire 510.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, when pressing the push button 140, the firstprotrusion portion 142 may be inserted into a gap between the fasteningrelease portions 124. Thus, the third extension portions 123 c of thefastening portion 123 may be spaced apart from the electrical wire 510to thus be released from the connection thereof to the wire.

The connection of the wire 500 is released and the wire 500 may beremoved therefrom, and then, when the force applied to the push button140 is removed, the push button 140 may be restored to an original stateby elastic force of the spring 150 supporting the push button 140.

The configuration of the connector 100 may be changed as illustrated inFIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a connector 100 a in a modified example. Theconnector 100 a according to a modified example may include extensionportions 121 a and 131 a in which the soldering portions 121 and 131 areexposed externally of the housing 110, respectively, and flat portions121 b and 131 b bent from the extension portions 121 a and 131 a,respectively, in a direction in which wires are inserted into theconnector.

The connector 100 a, in the modified example, may include the flatportions 121 b and 131 b of the soldering portions 121 and 131 disposedto be spaced apart from the housing 110. Through such a configuration,the wire may be inserted into a connection part of the connector from aposition on the other surface of a chassis structure opposing a surfaceof the chassis structure on which a light emitting device is mountedwhen a light source module is mounted on the chassis structure, asillustrated below.

A plurality of light source modules 10 may be provided, and theplurality of light source modules 10 may be connected to each other inseries or in parallel. This will be described below with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is an example in which a plurality of light source modules areconnected in series, and FIG. 9 is an example in which a plurality oflight source modules are connected in parallel.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a light source module 11 and a light sourcemodule 12 adjacent thereto may be connected to each other by a singlewire 500 a. Thus, two light source modules 11 and 12 may be connected toeach other in series. In detail, a second connection part 230 of theconnector 200 of the light source module 11 and a first connection part120 of the connector 100 of the light source module 12 adjacent theretomay be connected to each other by the wire 500 a. Thus, the two lightsource modules 11 and 12 may be connected to each other in series.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, any one light source module 11 and a lightsource module 12 adjacent thereto may be connected to each other by apair of wires 500 b and 500 c, and thus, two light source modules 11 and12 may be connected in parallel. In detail, a first connection part 220of the connector 200 of the light source module 11 and a firstconnection part 120 of the connector 100 of the light source module 12adjacent thereto may be connected to each other by the wire 500 b, and asecond connection part 230 of the connector 200 of the light sourcemodule 11 and a second connection part 130 of the connector 100 of thelight source module 12 adjacent thereto may be connected to each otherby the wire 500 c. Thus, the two light source modules 11 and 12 may beconnected in parallel.

Thus, if necessary, a connection of a circuit of the plurality of lightsource modules 11 and 12 may be easily changed by only changing aconnection of a wire between the plurality of light source modules 11and 12 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which a light source module array 1000includes a plurality of light source modules 11 to 14.

The light source module array 1000 according to an example embodiment isillustrated as being configured in such a manner that four light sourcemodules 11 to 14 are disposed in two rows and two columns on a chassisstructure 600 of an LCD panel. Although the light source modules 11 to14 are illustrated as being connected to each other in series by way ofexample, a circuit connection of the plurality of light source modules11 to 14 may be easily changed by changing wiring of the wire 500 asdescribed above.

The light source module array 1000 may be configured by disposing thelight source modules 11 to 14 on the chassis structure 600 and thenconnecting the wires 500 to the connectors 100 and 200.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate another example of the light source modulearray. In another example embodiment with reference to FIGS. 11A and11B, the configuration of connectors 100 a and 200 a may be differentfrom that in the foregoing example embodiment. The connectors 100 a and200 a employed in the present example embodiment may be provided as theconnectors illustrated with reference to FIG. 7. Through connectorshaving a configuration different from that of the connector in theforegoing example embodiment, a method of wiring a wire 500 of a lightsource module array 2000 may be changed, and this will be principallydescribed below.

As illustrated in FIG. 11B, the light source module array 2000 accordingto the example embodiment may include combination holes 410 a and 610 apenetrating through a circuit board 400 and a chassis structure 600 a,respectively. The combination holes 410 a and 610 a may have a size ableto allow a housing 110 of the connector 100 a to be inserted thereinto,but not allow insertion of flat portions 121 b and 131 b. Thus, the flatportions 121 b and 131 b of the connector 100 a may be disposed tocontact a predetermined portion of the circuit board 400.

Thus, the circuit board 400 and the flat portions 121 b and 131 b may besoldered through a soldering 700 to be connected to each other. Thehousing 110 may be penetrated through the combination holes 410 a and610 a to be protruded therefrom, and thus, the connection of the wire500 may be performed on a lower portion of the chassis structure 600 a.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an example of the light emitting device 300employed in the light source module of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 12, a light source module 3100 may include acircuit board 3110 and a plurality of white light emitting devices 3100a arranged on the circuit board 3110. A conductive pattern connected tothe white light emitting devices 3100 a may be formed on the circuitboard 3110.

Each of the white light emitting devices 3100 a may have a structure inwhich a light emitting element 3130 emitting blue light is directlymounted on the circuit board 3110 in a chip on board (cob) scheme. Eachwhite light emitting device 3100 a may not have a separate reflectivewall, and may have a semispherical shape in which a wavelengthconversion portion 3150 a has a lens function to exhibit a relativelywide angle of beam spread in light. Such a wide beam spread of light maycontribute to a reduction in a thickness or a width of an LCD display.

With reference to FIG. 13, a light source module 3200 may include acircuit board 3110 and a plurality of white light emitting devices 3100b arranged on the circuit board 3110. Each of the white light emittingdevices 3100 b may include a light emitting element 3130 emitting bluelight and disposed in a reflective cup of a package body 3125, and awavelength conversion portion 3150 b encapsulating the light emittingelement 3130.

The wavelength conversion portions 3150 a and 3150 b may be formed in amanner in which a wavelength conversion material 3154 or 3156 such as aphosphor and/or a quantum dot is contained in a resin 3152.

With reference to FIG. 14, a planar lighting apparatus 4100 may includea light source module 4110, a power supply device 4120, and a housing4130. According to an example embodiment, the light source module 4110may include the light source module 10 of FIG. 1 described above, as alight source, and the power supply device 4120 may include a drivingportion of the light source module 4110.

The light source module 4110 may include a plurality of light emittingdevices, and may be formed to have a substantially planar shape. A lightemitting device array according to an example of the present inventiveconcept may include a light emitting device and a controller storingdriving information of the light emitting device therein.

The power supply device 4120 may be configured to supply power to thelight source module 4110. The housing 4130 may have an accommodatingspace in which the light source module 4110 and the power supply device4120 are accommodated, and may have a parallelepiped shape of which oneside is open, but is not limited thereto. The light source module 4100may be disposed in such a manner that light may be emitted through theopen side of the housing 4130.

As set forth above, according to the example embodiments, a light sourcemodule and a light source module array in which a width of a lightsource module may be reduced, the time taken in connecting a wire tomanufacture a light source module array may be reduced may be provided,thereby reducing a manufacturing time and manufacturing costs thereof.

In addition, a connector usable in manufacturing the light source moduleand the light source module array may be provided.

While example embodiments have been shown and described above, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications andvariations could be made without departing from the scope of theinventive concept as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light source module array comprising: aplurality of light source modules, each of the plurality of light sourcemodules comprising: a circuit board; a plurality of light emittingdevices disposed on the circuit board, and first and second connectorsdisposed on a surface of the circuit board and electrically connected tothe plurality of light emitting devices, wherein each of the first andsecond connectors comprises first and second connection parts disposedin opposite directions and electrically connected to wires inserted intothe first and second connection parts, and the wires inserted into thefirst and second connection parts electrically connect the secondconnector of one of the plurality of light source modules to the firstconnector of a light source module adjacent thereto among the pluralityof light source modules.
 2. The light source module array of claim 1,wherein the plurality of light source modules are connected to eachother in series by the wires inserted into the first and secondconnection parts.
 3. The light source module array of claim 2, whereinthe wires inserted into the first and second connection partselectrically connect a second connection part of the second connector ofone of the plurality of light source modules to a first connection partof the first connector of a light source module adjacent thereto amongthe light source modules.
 4. The light source module array of claim 1,wherein the plurality of light source modules are connected in parallelby the wires inserted into the first and second connection parts.
 5. Thelight source module array of claim 4, wherein the wires inserted intothe first and second connection parts electrically connect a firstconnection part of the second connector of one of the plurality of lightsource modules to a first connection part of the first connector of alight source module adjacent thereto among the light source modules, andelectrically connect a second connection part of the second connector ofone of the plurality of light source modules to a second connection partof the first connector of a light source module adjacent thereto amongthe light source modules.